Ask the Dox……………knuckling over.

by Mary Shimshea on March 30, 2013

“Ask the Dox” is our segment in which anyone can ask the community to share their experiences and opinions. You must post a pic with your dilemma. We do not claim to be professionals, but just a community of dog-lovers with a common interest…..Dachshunds.

Angella Fawn asks……………………………Is this knuckling over? Will it cause arthritis? Is there anything that can help straighten his legs without expensive surgery or is there a reason to be concerned how this will effect him in old age? He is 2 years old, not from a breeder. Though he looks just like his dad, a dachshund, mom was a GSD/boxer mix. When i first got him I studied on over knuckling because of what the breed standards say (though he is not show dog I am just concerned for his overall well being and long term health) Standards say: Forearm–short; supplied with hard yet pliable muscles on the front and outside, with tightly stretched tendons on the inside and at the back, slightly curved inwards. The joints between the forearms and the feet (wrists) are closer together than the shoulder joints, so that the front does not appear absolutely straight. Any experience out there?

I have 4 Doxies..Their legs are like this also. I worried about the same thing and went to my vet about it. He said Doxie’s are made this way and not to worry about it. He said to keep an eye on them jumping off of things because Doxies sometimes get back problems.

My dogs look the same way to. Doxies tend to always have bowed legs, its how bowed they are that can be harmful. If it looks like he has an elbow sticking out of the side of his leg that’s when u should go to a vet. Keeping their nails as short as possible will help with the bowing to stop, that’s the number one thing that bows legs, long nails and being over weight.

I let mine sky dive off of my recliner chair and couch. My couch is really low to the ground but the chairs at normal size. I need to stop letting him do that. My bf let’s him do it all the time and gets made at me when I tell him to stop letting him jump. It becomes a two person job and everyone being on the same page

My chiweenie who us 7 has a front right leg like this with the turned paw..a bit worse. He was born like this. My vet said he is more apt to have arthritis later. My dog moves like the wind and you could never tell anything is wrong with him…and he is deaf too. Just watch your pup and take to the vet if you notice anything out of the ordinary :)

I had the same concern when I got my boys. They still look the same and the are perfectly healthy.
But when they are growing important to make sure they are walking/running/playing in the house on carpet. The slippy tile or hardwood could cause knuckling over because they do not have the proper traction while moving to grow their muscles correctly.

thank you all for yur comments. he walks fine. I am not concerned how it looks so much as how it MAY CAUSE arthritis later – I dont want him to hurt excessively if I can prevent it. it just looks like it would be painful but if this is normal for doxies then I suppose I can stop worrying.

My dog has this but extreme- wasn’t like this when a pup start about 1yr old and now is 9yrs- when he stand in place his legs actually bowl out and twist- Makes him Special! doc just said just make sure he doesn’t jump DOWN for high places- it’s the down not the up!

My boy has this was told it was cause by malnourishment a pup. He’s 9 yr old and has no problems with arthritis. The only thing I have to watch out for is dips in the grass when he’s running, he sometimes trips and he hurts for a bit and then he’s back to his old self.

I don’t see anything wrong here! I have 4 minis & they all do this to one extent or the other. HOWEVER, since you are concerned about this, you really need to talk to your vet. Your vet is the expert! That “standard” you are quoting is the PERFECT conformation standard for show dogs. If this furbaby is a pet than who cares about him/her having the perfect conformation! Just love ‘em!!!! That’s what they want most!

Your Doxie’s legs look like how they come on long low dogs! Fear not. You have more to worry about his back than his legs. Hopefully, if you keep his weight controlled and NEVER let him jump on and off high places (which includes most furniture, if your legs are less than 6-8 inches long) he’ll live a long and active life with full mobility!